Alba Trees Acquires Christies of Fochabers Nursery

Alba Trees, a prominent UK supplier of young trees, has significantly expanded its operational capacity by acquiring the business and assets of Christies of Fochabers. This strategic move, finalized on February 3rd, 2026, integrates the long-standing Scottish bare-root nursery into Alba Trees' existing framework, enhancing its ability to serve the nation's growing demand for afforestation and woodland regeneration projects.

The transaction ensures the continuity of Christies of Fochabers' specialized growing operations and its established customer base. Crucially, all 32 employees from the Fochabers site have transitioned to Alba Trees, preserving vital expertise and maintaining stable relationships with suppliers and clients. This acquisition marks a pivotal moment for Alba Trees, allowing it to offer a more comprehensive product range that includes both its established cell-grown saplings and the newly integrated bare-root stock.

This integration is particularly timely given the UK's ambitious tree-planting targets, driven by environmental policy and carbon sequestration goals. The forestry sector is experiencing robust growth, with increased investment in new woodland creation and the vital task of restocking existing forests. By incorporating Christies of Fochabers' heritage in bare-root production, Alba Trees is now better positioned to meet diverse client needs across forestry, land management, and landscaping sectors, solidifying its standing as a leading national provider.

Alba Trees, backed by its investor Cibus Capital, plans to implement significant investments aimed at modernizing the acquired nursery. The focus will be on enhancing operational efficiencies, strengthening biosecurity protocols, and applying advanced agronomic practices to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality plant stock. This commitment underscores Alba Trees' dedication to advancing the UK forest nursery industry and supporting the rural economy in the Moray region of Scotland.

The expanded capabilities will enable Alba Trees to serve a wider customer base and deepen existing client partnerships. The company anticipates offering a more resilient and flexible 'one-stop-shop' solution, catering to a broader spectrum of planting requirements and stock types. This strategic consolidation is expected to drive greater market share and operational synergy within the competitive UK tree supply market.

This acquisition by Alba Trees, a company already recognized as the UK's foremost cell-grown tree nursery, represents a significant step in its growth trajectory. It highlights the ongoing consolidation within the agricultural and environmental services sectors, as companies seek to achieve economies of scale and broaden their service offerings to meet evolving market demands and policy objectives.